A wave of protests and road blockades has gripped Dhaka, turning the city’s streets into battlegrounds of demands, leaving ordinary citizens ensnared in gridlock and daily commutes in disarray.
From students to dismissed law enforcement officers, diverse groups are taking to the streets, pressing for their respective causes, often at the expense of public convenience.
On Sunday (2 February) alone, at least four separate protest groups brought traffic to a halt at key intersections across the capital.
Students of Government Titumir College in Mohakhali continued their agitation demanding university status for their institution, staging road and railway blockades under the banner of "Barasat Barricade".
While they temporarily withdrew the rail blockade out of consideration for pilgrims attending the World Ijtema, demonstrations resumed with increased intensity in the evening.
Simultaneously, the "Inquilab Mancha" staged a march demanding the resignation of the home affairs adviser over an unresolved murder case in July.
Police intercepted them near the High Court premises, preventing their procession from reaching the Secretariat.
Meanwhile, victims of discriminatory policies who had suffered injuries in past movements occupied the Shyamoli-Agargaon road, seeking justice and equitable treatment.
Their demonstration, however, was perceived by many as a justified humanitarian plea rather than mere obstruction.
Adding to the turmoil, families of dismissed police officers, from constables to sub-inspectors, staged protests near the High Court Mazar area, calling for reinstatement.
With public patience wearing thin, the unrelenting wave of protests is placing an immense strain on Dhaka’s already congested roads.
A spokesperson for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) acknowledged the challenges, stating: “We are working tirelessly to maintain security and order in the city, but frequent road blockades inevitably cause disruptions. Our officers are handling the situation with utmost patience and professionalism.”
The unrest is not a sudden phenomenon.
Over the past week, a string of protests, including those by primary madrasa teachers and sacked law enforcement personnel, has compounded the city’s traffic woes.
In the wake of the caretaker government’s assumption of power on 8 August following the ousting of the Awami League administration, grievances across various sectors have surged into the public sphere.
Demands from Ansar personnel, dismissed BDR (now BGB) officers, intern doctors, nurses, and village police have added to the unrest, each group pushing their case with varying degrees of legitimacy.
Commenting on the crisis, Dr Sajjad Siddiqui, chair of the Peace and Conflict Studies Department at Dhaka University, noted: “The abrupt surge in demonstrations is neither normal nor sustainable. While the grievances may be valid in some cases, indiscriminate road blockades are an inefficient and unjust means of seeking redress. The interim government, too, is faltering in its response, often conceding demands too hastily, which has emboldened others to follow suit.”
He further urged the government to establish clear guidelines for peaceful demonstrations, emphasising that “public suffering should not be collateral damage in the pursuit of justice.”
Social and crime analyst Dr Touhidul Haque echoed similar concerns, stating: “Many of these demands stem from years of neglect and broken promises. However, resorting to hostage-style protests, where ordinary citizens bear the brunt of agitation, is neither ethical nor effective. A cultural shift in the approach to advocacy is needed.”
The protests show no signs of abating.
Since 9 August, religious minorities, metro rail employees, and auditors seeking revised pay scales have staged their own movements, while teachers, public transport workers, and job-seekers continue to add pressure on the interim administration.
Dhaka now finds itself at a crossroads with the city’s arteries choked by unrest, where the urgency of reform must be balanced against the necessity of maintaining order.
Whether the government can restore equilibrium without capitulating to every demand remains the pressing question.
